Most likely a first astral... experience?

[sadcatsclub]

I heard about astral projection roughly about two weeks ago, when I discovered this forum with so many users I figured it must be real. My attempts consisted of lying down and being still, but they didn't work. My first astral book i got in a PDF was The Phase, and I thought their method was unsuitable, as I did not want to wake up in the middle of the night and walk around, and others on the forum seemed to have more success with simply lying down and getting SP as they fell asleep. Last night, I decided to try their method, which is fall asleep, wake up 6 hours later by alarm, stay awake for a bit, fall back asleep, and try to get out of your body as you naturally awaken 3 or more times after the 6 hours awakening. I was wary of whether I was going to wake up 3-4 times after my 6 hours awakening, but I did! My first one I forgot to use exit techniques, but I realized there were more opportunities later. Second awakening, I remembered, but panicked a little about it, and the technique that didn't work for me when trying to project without any 'preparation' was the first that came to mind, just raising your astral limbs sort of, so I quickly did that before I wasted time. Then the words 'do it stubbornly!' came through my mind from the book, so I did, not thinking about whether I raised my physical arms or not. To my great surprise, I found myself lifting out of my body,  in fact, I only realise now I could have been moving my physical arms, but I think this was an astral experience, as yes, my hands did feel quite different, I uttered 'yesss...' as I left my body,though I think I could feel my sheets, probably only got up to my chest/hips (peeled myself off the bed wuth upper body), I actually watched my vision somehow get rotated and mangled? My curtain things were sort of on a fisheye view, and I could see the view was sort of rotated, and I couldnt think of anything except how a member on here once said the word 'golden' about your room's view when in the astral, and just 'Its the astral !!!' The split second view did look golden, but instead of being super excited and jolted somewhat awake, I felt the clutches of sleep take me again, and who was I to resist in these 1-2 secs of having a new body? I struggled to stay awake really, but found myself with my upper body up from my 'lie on back' sleeping position, same position I was in the astral, with a normal darkish room, and I was a tiny bit in shock about what happened. Suddenly, my cat came in and meowed at me, I told my friends, and am here writing this now.
I guess apart from reading this, can you tell me whether you think it was an astral experience? I don't have really any doubts about it existing, though the fact that I was supposedly in my astral body, then wound up in my physical body as I started to fall asleep makes me confused, wasn't I supposed to completely separate, or just peel of my lying down body?
It makes sense that if my physical body isn't ready to let go and says I need more sleep it can bring me back, but the visions do seem to help, as I have never gotten them before, and of of sound mind. Thanks for the replies.

[Lionheart]

I guess apart from reading this, can you tell me whether you think it was an astral experience? I don't have really any doubts about it existing, though the fact that I was supposedly in my astral body, then wound up in my physical body as I started to fall asleep makes me confused, wasn't I supposed to completely separate, or just peel of my lying down body?
It makes sense that if my physical body isn't ready to let go and says I need more sleep it can bring me back, but the visions do seem to help, as I have never gotten them before, and of of sound mind. Thanks for the replies.

First off, Congratulations that was a successful NP (non physical) experience.

Next, lose all expectations on what to expect and just experience "it" for now.

You have found a way that works for you. Now you just have to ALLOW what's going to happen and stay the course.

You will find that after viewing this for yourself and keeping notes, that all or most of your questions will be answered. I say most of, because you will always be challenged anew and new questions will arise out of those new challenges.

[sadcatsclub]

Thankyou, I'll try again soon, and ask any questions I can't answer myself, I'm lucky I found a good way to get into the astral, and in a good book as well.

[Szaxx]

Convince yourself you are NOT in your body and the conciousness you experience is the essential YOU. You have no weight and will float upwards unhindered easily if you allow it occur.
This is very natural and easy to do once you see the golden light.
I did this around 4 years old and enjoyed exploring the local environment most nights.

Well done too, it'll take a bit of getting familiar with the 'controls' on moving exactly as wanted. Just KNOW it's easy.
If you can ride a bicycle, the learning is very similar in how it's done. One step at a time.

[sadcatsclub]

Thanks, strangely the motion of getting up felt easy and natural, I didn't think 'this is so strange, what will I do next!', I remember thinking about my deepening techniques already (rubbing my hands together.) I'll try this again tonight/tomorrow morning, see how far I go, and hope sleepiness does not take me back next time, as it did this morning; it felt like a dark shadow making its way up my astral body.

[Sagar]

There are many ways to get out of your body and everyone has a unique way of doing it. 
I would recommend trying one or both of these different methods and see if one/both works better for you. 

1) Read this one page facebook article from Robert Bruce on "If an Astral Body Part Gets Stuck in Your Physical Body Try This"       
https://www.facebook.com/notes/robert-bruce/if-an-astral-body-part-gets-stuck-in-your-physical-body-try-this/386130371426885

2) Read Xanth's book on what astral projection is and how to do it:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39504726/Phasing_Primer.pdf

If you're more interested in the "how to" you can skip to part 5 of the table of contents which has: "First Exercise, Noticing!" and "Second Exercise, Mental Rundown!"

Personally I'm working on raising energy and then performing Xanth's method of meditation and phasing.  So a mix of both. 

Good luck

[Aaron330]

Congrats on your first true NP experience man! I had mine not too long ago and I have had 3-4 since and it only gets better from here. Just keep up the good work and keep your desire and intent as high as possible. If you do that, you can't fail.

[sadcatsclub]

Thanks all, I've skimmed over Xanth's book once, will look again! I haven't gotten to the astral again since then, a mixture of mindset/disturbance, I can only practice on weekends when waking up, as I have never gotten sleep paralysis before, I find I go into a state of peacefulness, but never get to the stage where I'm ready to go, haven't heard any sounds like ringing yet.  My mantra is usually clear, but I have to put in effort to maintain it as I fall asleep as the words turn into other rhyming words, and I'm just guessing what goes next.